A Conversation With...Mark Hill

Mark Hill is a British stylist, a multi-award winning one at that. If you grew up in beautiful Britain you have  to have heard of him. Not only is he still the only hairdresser outside of London to have won the British Hairdresser of the Year twice, he is also the only British hairdresser to have won the prestigious International Hairdresser of the Year accolade twice in succession.

When it comes to hair, there is nothing Mark Hill doesn't know! Luckily for me, Mark was kind enough to take some time out of his packed schedule to talk all things hair. So sit back, relax, and enjoy our little chat...

What inspired you to work in the hairdressing industry? And how did your career journey begin?

I was 15 when a girlfriend suggested I got a Saturday job in hairdressing. She was a bit older and already working in a local salon. To be honest, at first I was only doing it to meet more girls! But after working a couple of days I realised hairdressing was the career for me.

What is your career highlight?

Winning British Hairdresser of the Year for the first time. All of my friends, family and team were with me so it was a really special night.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to succeed in the industry?

You've got to love people and hair! Practice as much as you can and never stop learning – even today I am excited to try new techniques or create new styles.

Who is the ultimate beauty icon?

For me, I would have to go back to the golden age of Hollywood and say screen icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Sophie Loren or Bridget Bardot. They epitomise beauty from head to toe. I also love people who are constantly re-inventing themselves – Katy Perry is a great example. She isn't scared to try new looks, colours or styles. Some styles are more successful than others but it doesn't matter - she is having fun and making a real statement with her hair. 

What are your hair and beauty essentials?

There are a few things I would never be without. Equipment wise, a hairdryer, round brush and wide tooth comb. Product wise I would never be without, Work it Girl Shine Protect and Control Spray and Miracoilicious Argan Oil. With these few products, I can style pretty much any client!

What is the biggest hair crime a person can commit?

I don’t think there is one! Everyone has their own style; what is seen as a crime by one person is probably someone else’s dream hair!

What is your top hair tip?

The key to any great style is condition. If your hair is in bad condition, styling will be difficult as your hair will lack volume, body and shine. Using the right products, using regular conditioning treatments and taking care of your hair will open up styling possibilities and make it easier to manage at home.

Wednesday Wisdom: Hedy Lamarr

“Jack Kennedy always said to me, Hedy, get involved. That's the secret of life. Try everything. Join everything. Meet everybody”

The Tuesday Tip: Colour & Cover!

If you have grey hairs or re-growth but don't have time to visit your colourist, grab your makeup bag and reach for an eye shadow.

Pick an eye shadow that best matches your hair colour, blend it into your roots and, once the unwanted colour has been covered, hold it in place with hairspray.

If you frequently struggle to keep up with your hair appointments, you may want to invest in a hair colour powder. My absolute favourite is the Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder 125ml (£28.00 Selfridges / $36.00 Sephora). It is available in blonde, brown and black and it covers a multitude of colour sins. It is also a hero for fine-haired girls, as the colour & texture gives the illusion of more hair and the formula creates great volume that stays put.

Ingredients 101: Mānuka Honey

Natural or Synthetic: Natural

Origin: Mānuka Honey is a monofloral honey produced from the nectar of the mānuka tree

Location: New Zealand and Australia

Beauty Benefits: Mānuka honey is famous for its healing properties - so much so that the Māori people have been using it to treat themselves (both inside and out) for centuries! As mānuka honey is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it is also great for treating acne. If you suffer from acne, apply this miracle honey directly onto your skin to help reduce the size of pimples, reduce the redness and prevent future flare-ups. Giving yourself a mānuka honey face mask will also hydrate and soothe your skin.

The major antibacterial component in mānuka honey is methylglyoxal (MG), however not all types of mānuka honey contain the same concentration of MG. For these reasons, honey producers developed a scale for rating the potency of mānuka honey, known as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). The UMF rating corresponds with the concentration of MG and any type of mānuka honey will need to have a minimum rating of 10 UMF in order to be considered potent enough to provide real benefits. Any mānuka honey above 10 UMF is referred to as Active Mānuka Honey.

Warnings: Mānuka honey is safe to use topically

Found in: Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask 75ml (£21.99 antipodesnature.com / $36.55 feelunique.com). This smooth, creamy mask draws moisture to skin to hydrate it intensely, whilst also treating acne and dry patches. It is the perfect skin pick-me-up and it smells amazing.

Weekly Worship: FaceB4

Price: £9.97

Stockist: Boots

FaceB4 is a skincare system made up of a daily anti-bacterial cleansing foam (100ml) and an after-cleansing serum (30ml), both £9.97 each.

Scientific trials have shown that the cleansing foam is the most effective anti-bacterial face wash in the UK - pretty impressive huh? Now, when used together, these products help to treat acne and prevent further outbreaks. I passed on both products to a friend who suffers with acne and, since using them both, she has become a loyal fan.

Having used the cleansing foam and after-cleansing serum daily, my friend noticed a great improvement in her skin. Her acne isn't half as bad as it once was and her redness has been significantly reduced.

Her favourite product is the after-cleansing serum. She found that it helped improve the texture of her skin and created a great base for makeup. It also kept her skin soft and helped treat dry patches - which is great considering most acne treatments dry out the skin.

So, if you suffer from acne-prone skin, she would recommend giving these affordable acne treatments a go!